Baltimore and New York both looked like teams that knew exactly what they were doing in Week 1.
John Harbaugh opened his Giants run with a statement win over the Dallas Cowboys, and Baltimore answered with a 41-23 victory that suggested the Ravens may have found their footing again after making the move to part ways with their Super Bowl-winning coach. One week in, both sides have reasons to feel good about the split.
For Harbaugh, the debut came with Jaxson Dart throwing three touchdown passes and carving up Christian Parker’s defense. That kind of start gives the Giants a real chance to climb out of the mess Brian Daboll left behind. For Baltimore, Jesse Minter’s first game as head coach brought exactly the kind of performance the Ravens were hoping for: Lamar Jackson looked like himself again, new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle got the most out of Derrick Henry, and Minter’s defense caused problems for a Colts offense that entered the game with promise.
Harbaugh’s legacy in Baltimore is secure because of the Super Bowl, but the fit had clearly started to wear down. He spent all of Jackson’s prime in charge, and despite Jackson winning two MVPs and nearly a third, the Ravens reached the AFC Championship Game only once under Harbaugh, and they lost it.
That kind of long-term stalling is what happens with a lot of veteran coaches. The names change, the ideas get familiar, and a team gets trapped in the middle - too good to tear down, not good enough to break through.
Baltimore eventually made the hard call, maybe a year or so after many fans had already moved on. Harbaugh landed in a place that needed exactly what he brings. The Giants, outside of a complete fluke in 2022, have spent most of the last decade looking every bit as dysfunctional as the Jets, with quarterback issues, fourth-quarter collapses, and the kind of chaos that demands a stabilizing voice.
That’s why Harbaugh made sense there. He’s a floor raiser, and that’s what the Giants needed most.
Baltimore took a swing of its own by hiring Minter away from the Los Angeles Chargers and pairing him with Doyle to help Jackson rediscover the version of himself the Ravens have been missing. It’s only one game, and it came against a Daniel Jones-led opponent, but the early signs are enough to suggest Baltimore can get back into the championship conversation.
Right now, both teams look like they got the right man for the job.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Looks Reborn In Ravens Offense But One Concern Looms
Lamar Jackson looked every bit like the MVP version of himself in Baltimores Week 1 win, delivering a sharp, efficient performance that gave the Ravens an immediate payoff for their offseason offensive overhaul. With Declan Doyle stepping in as offensive coordinator, the new scheme seemed to unlock Jackson quickly, as he worked through the passing game with confidence and paired it with his usual damage on the ground.
Jackson spread the ball around and found Zay Flowers for several big gains before the receiver exited with a hamstring injury after a 150-yard day. For a Ravens offense that finally had a smooth, explosive opener, Flowers status is the detail worth monitoring now, because the early signs of chemistry and rhythm were as encouraging as anything Baltimore has shown in a while. [Read more 🡒]
Lamar Jacksons Early Take On Ravens New OC Says A Lot
Baltimores new-look coaching setup got an early stress test in Week 1, and the offense came away looking comfortable. With Jesse Minter now running the sideline after John Harbaughs long run as head coach and Declan Doyle installed as offensive coordinator, the Ravens showed enough rhythm on that side of the ball to make the transition feel a little less jarring than outsiders might have expected. Doyle arrived with experience from the Bears, Saints and Broncos, and the first impression suggested the players were buying in quickly.
Lamar Jacksons early praise for Doyles play-calling was the part that stood out most, because it said as much about the quarterback as it did about the coordinator. Jackson has seen enough changes over the years to know when a new system is still being learned, and his reaction pointed to an offense that looked organized, responsive and in sync right away. For a team trying to keep its title hopes moving while adjusting to a new staff, that kind of early comfort can matter just as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Leave Week 1 Win With A Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Ravens opened the season with a win over the Indianapolis Colts, but the celebration came with an immediate injury scare that could shape the early weeks ahead. Zay Flowers exited after putting together a career-best day with 150 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Ja'Kobi Lane left with a wrist injury and T.J. Tampa departed with a knee issue, leaving Baltimore to sort through a depth chart that already had to lean on extra help as the game unfolded.
Coach Jesse Minter did not offer an update on any of the three after the game, which is the kind of silence that tends to linger a little longer after a Week 1 win. The Ravens at least got meaningful snaps from Chris Moore and Carl Jones, both elevated from the practice squad, and their contributions on offense and special teams helped steady things in the moment, but the bigger question now is how long Baltimore might have to manage without three players it could ill afford to lose at once. [Read more 🡒]